Counter



Sept. 24, 19.29.

E. HENDERSON COUNTER Filed Dec. 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Bal /ewe Sept. 24, 1929. E. o. HENDERSON COUNTER Filed Dec. 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P 1929. E. o. HENDERSON 1,729,268

COUNTER Filed Dec. 15, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I M [/3 g m oz ilk Patented Sept. 24, 1929 PATENT OFFICE ELDEN O HENDERSON, OF IVICALLEN, TEXAS COUNTER Application filed December 15, 1927'. Serial No. 240,329.

This invention relates to counters and more particularly to display counters for use in grocery stores and the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be assembled without the use of nails, screws or the like which may be shipped in knockeddown condition and which provides a strong and durable structure.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a counter which is formed of a series of flat sections and in which these sections are secured to one another to provide the assembled counter by joints of such construction that the use of nails and screws is avoided.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which includes means whereby an adequate support for price tags for the articles displayed upon the counter is provided and is made of such character thatithe price tags may be shifted to place them in proper alignment with the displayed goods.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing counters constructed in accordance withmy invention Figure 2 is a semi-diagrammatic plan view showing a fragmentary detail of one way of arranging the counters;

Figure 3 is an end elevation showing the 11151111161 in which the counters can be arranged back to back; I

F igure 4 is a perspective of the counter back;

Figure 5 is a combined perspective of the sections of the counter base and counter top;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view showing the joint between the front and end members of the base;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the shelf;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the support for the outeredge of the shelf;

Figure 9 is a perspective View of the sheet employed upon the counter back to provide the longitudinally extending groove for mounting the advertisement carriers;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a similar strip employed upon the counter back and shelf for mounting price tags;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bracket applied to the counter back for supporting the inner edge of the shelf;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective of a lower corner of the counter back;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the plates applied to the front and end sections of the base as a means for connecting the same;

Figure 14; is a detail sectional view showing the connection between the counter back and shelf;

Figure 15 is a sectional view showing the manner of connecting the backs of two counters and of attaching a sign thereto;

Figure 16 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which the counter top and counter back are connected;

Figure 1'? is a view of the bracket employed for connecting the backs of'two'counters;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of an advertisement carrier which may be supported from said bracket.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the counter comprises a counter top 10 supported by a base structure including a front member 11 and end members 12 together with a back or girder 13. The front member of the supporting base has secured thereto adjacent its end edges vertically extending corrugated strips 14 forming clips receiving a similar corrugated flange 15 of a strip 16 secured to the forward edge of the end member. The corrugations of the strip 14 are such that when the flange is engaged therewith the end member is not displaceable by movement thereof transversely, so that a locking joint is provided without the use of nails or screws other than those which are permanently attached to the front and end members. Each end member has secured thereto at its inner face and adjacent its rear vertical edge a stud or standard 17 upon which the ends of the girder 13 rest.

The girder 13 comprises a frame including top and bottom longitudinal members 18 and 19 and end members 20. To this frame at the rear face thereof is applied a sheet metal backing 21, the lower edge of which is bent forwardly beneath the lower frame member 19 and then upwardly in slightly spaced relation to the front face of this frame member. This upbent portion or flange is vertically corrugated, as indicated at 22. To the end members of the frame, intermediate the ends thereof, are secured clips 23, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Secured to the rear face of the upper frame member 18 is a plicate sheet, generally designated at 24, and affording a longitudinally extending groove 25 within which may be shiftably mounted an advertising display device 26, such as more particularly shown in my co-pending application, No. 219.299, filed of even date herewith, for advertisementcarriers for counters. The counter top 10 has secured thereto along the rear edge thereof a hook flange 27, the bill portion of which, in dicated at 28, is adapted to enter between the flange 22 and the front face of the lower frame member 19 of the girder. The rear ec ge of the counter top is thus supported from the girder throughout its entire length at its rear edge. The side and front edges are supported by the front and end members 11 and 12 of the base.

The numeral 29 generally designates a shelf having its rear edge notched adjacent its ends for the reception of the end members 1.3 of the girder frame. At the bases of the notches, hook flanges 30 are provided, the bills 31 of which are adapted to engage in the brackets 23 to support the rear edge of the shelf. The forward edge of the shelf is supported at spaced intervals by supports 32, which may take any desired ornamental form, being in the present instance shown as star shaped and are secured at their upper ends to the shelf and at their lower ends to the counter top 10. These supports are preferably provided with struck-out lips 33 or other means for securing price tags (not shown) or labels having to do with the goods arranged adjacent thereto. The under surface of the shelf at the forward edge thereof has attached thereto a plicate sheet 34L similar to the sheet 2 hereinbefore described, adjacent folds of this sheet providing an open-mouthed transversely sinuous slot 35 adapted to receive similarly sinuous tabs 36 on price tags 37. The engagement of the tags in the slots permits their adjustment longitudinally of the slots while preventing accidental displacement thereof or their removal except by a pull having considerable force. It may be readily entered in the slot by introducing the same from the ends thereof. The under surface of the upper cross bar is likewise provided with a plicate sheet 38 adapted for the reception of the price tags 37.

In employing a construction of this character, counters may be arranged in a great many different ways and a counter of desired length may be produced at any time by simply abutting adjacent sections. In this case, the member 12 employed between adjacent sections instead of having the interlocking flange 15 on only one side thereof is provided with such flanges at its opposite side faces, so that the necessity for two of the end members is avoided. An arrangement of the counters in this manner is disclosed in Figure 2. In this figure, I have shown a long counter adapted to be disposed against the wall and a counter extending outwardly from the long counter transversely of the floor. Such transversely extending counters or counters which project in the store space are preferably arranged back to back, as diagrai'nmatically illustrated in Figure 3, and have their ends abutting the longitudinally extending or wall engaging counters. Counters arranged back to back are preferably secured to one another by attaching brackets 39 thereto. These brackets are adapted to receive the hook flanges 40 of an advertising placard 4-1 in addition to their function of maintaining the counters against separation. Each of the end and side members is preferably provided with panels 42 which may be hinged so that access may be had to the space beneath the counter to permit storage of goods therein. It will be obvious that a counter of this character may be shipped knocked down and very readily assembled by the purchaser upon receipt of the same.

Since the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

1. In a counter, a base, a counter top and a counter back, the counter back having along its front face at its lower edge a flange which is in spaced relation. to said front face, the counter top having along its rear edge a continuous hook flange adapted to engage over the upper edge of the flange of the counter back whereby the rear edge of the counter top is supported by said counter back, said flange and hook flange being similarly transversely sinuous and having their faces in close engagement when the back and top are in as sembled relation.

2. In a counter, a base, a counter top and a counter back, the counter back having along its front face at its lower edge a flange which is in spaced relation to said front face, the counter top having along its rear edge a continuous hook flange adapted to engage over the upper edge of the flange of the counter back whereby the rear edge of the counter top is supported by said counter back, said counter back comprising an open rectangular Cir frame and a metallic backing sheet applied to said frame, the lower edge of the metal backing sheet being bent forwardly beneath the lower member of the frame and then upwardly at the front face of said lower member in spaced relation thereto to produce said flange.

3. In a counter, a base, a counter top and a counter back, the base comprising front and end members having coacting connecting elements engageable and disengageable only by relative vertical movement of the members, the counter back having along its front face at its lower edge a flange which is in spaced relation to said front face, the counter top having along its rear edge a continuous hook flange adapted to engage over the upper edge of the flange of the counter back whereby the rear edge of the counter top is supported by said counter back, the counter back being pro vided at a point spaced from its upper end with brackets, a shelf having hook flanges for engagement with said brackets whereby the rear edge of the shelf is supported and supports extending between the counter top and the forward edge of the shelf.

4. In a counter, a base, a counter top and a counter back, the counter back having along its front face at its lower edge a flange which is in spaced relation to said front face, the counter top having along its rear edge a con tinuous hook flange adapted to engage over the upper edge of the flange of the counter back whereby the rear edge of the counter top is supported by said counter back, said counter back comprising an open rectangular frame, and a metallic backing sheet applied to said frame, the lower edge of the metal backing sheet being bent forwardly beneath the lower member of the frame and then up wardly at the front face of said lower memher in spaced relation thereto to produce said flange, said flange and hook flange being similarly transversely sinuous and having their faces in close engagement when the back and top are in assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ELDEN O. HENDERSON. 

